Aspirin Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Aspirin - Term Paper Example Lastly this summary of the literature studied is presented and a list of works cited is included also. Aspirin is synonymous for acetylsalicylic acid, which functions mainly as pain and fever reliever, and as an anti-inflammatory treatment. Aspirin decreases prostaglandin production which results in decrease in prostaglandin which alleviates inflammation and pain. When therapeutic doses of aspirin are ingested, the drug is rapidly immersed in the stomach, and peak blood levels usually occur within one hour. Following overdose, however, absorption and elimination are drastically altered. Peak levels are frequently delayed, and may occur six hours or more after absorption as a result of pylorospasm, bezoar formation, or the use of extended-release, enteric-coated formulations (Pierce et al,. pp. 65-212 ). In one extreme case, peak levels did not occur until 35 hours after ingestion (Rivera et al., pp. 53-90). Aspirin is mostly used for preventing heart attacks, strokes, ease pain, swelling, and fever. It can also be used to treat arthritis and gout attacks. Aspirin is prescribed to patients with indications of rheumatic fever or in order to protect bypass grafts and stents in the heart. Aspirin works by blocking chemicals that cause pain and swelling and lowers fever by changing the bodys thermostat in the brain. It also helps in stopping platelets from getting sticky and clumping, thus preventing blog clogging which result in heart attacks. Doctors recommend aspirin usage at a regular interval and mostly after having food. Doctors warn that aspirin should not be given to children and teenagers for flu signs or chickenpox and unsafe side effects may happen if taken while taking some other drugs. Additionally children younger than 16 years of age for those having flu or chickenpox symptoms should not be prescribed aspirin or if the patient has an allergy to aspirin or any